and friends."

"And to impart to her friends an eternity of blissful
recollections," said the duchess, with a charming smile, pressing
the hand of the queen to her lips, and taking her leave with
inimitable grace, in order to pass out through the little side-door
which entered the corridor through a porcelain cabinet, intending
then to visit the rooms of the 'children of France.'

At the same moment in which the lofty, dignified form of the duchess
disappeared through the side-door, both wings of the main entrance
were flung open, and the two maids of honor of the queen advanced to
the threshold, and made so deep a reverence that their immense
petticoats expanded like a kettle. Then they took a step backward,
made another reverence so profound that their heads, bearing
coiffures a foot and a half high, fell upon their breasts.

"Madame Adelaide!" they both ejaculated as with one voice, slowly
straightening themselves up and taking their places at the sides of
the door.

The princess now appeared upon the threshold; behind her, her maids
of honor and master of ceremonies, the grand-chamberlain, the pages,
and both masters of grooms, standing in the great antechambers.

At the appearance of the maids of honor, Marie Antoinette had taken
her position in the middle of the chamber, and could not repress a
faint smile, as with erect head she noticed the confusion instant
upon the princess's imposing entrance.